https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Switzerland in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Switzerland has one of the highest civilian gun-ownership rates among developed countries. It also has a very low murder rate. Here's what you need to know about Swiss gun culture. https://www.thelocal.ch/20200128/europes-gun-capital-has-a-murder-rate-of-almost-zero-understanding-swiss-gun-culture Tue, 28 Jan 2020 15:02:05 +0100 europes-gun-capital-has-a-murder-rate-of-almost-zero-understanding-swiss-gun-culture Chances are that you are regularly or occasionally using public transportation in your local community, but perhaps have not yet ridden on Switzerland's yellow PostBus. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240318/how-and-where-can-you-travel-on-an-iconic-swiss-postbus Mon, 18 Mar 2024 12:18:50 +0100 how-and-where-can-you-travel-on-an-iconic-swiss-postbus People across Switzerland get busy brunching, lunching and setting off fireworks when the country celebrates its national day on August 1st. But why is it held on the first day of August? https://www.thelocal.ch/20190801/why-the-swiss-national-day-is-celebrated-on-august-1st Thu, 01 Aug 2019 08:45:08 +0200 why-the-swiss-national-day-is-celebrated-on-august-1st Switzerland’s National Day on August 1st is a public holiday, which means most shops and other businesses will be closed. But other services will be in operation. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240730/swiss-national-day-whats-open-and-closed-in-switzerland-on-august-1st Tue, 30 Jul 2024 14:35:45 +0200 swiss-national-day-whats-open-and-closed-in-switzerland-on-august-1st August 1st is traditionally celebrated with firework displays, bonfires, and barbecues. But this year the festivities will be scaled down due to continued drought and the risk of wildfires in most parts of Switzerland. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260729/how-the-severe-drought-will-impact-swiss-national-day-celebrations-this-year Wed, 29 Jul 2026 11:22:05 +0200 how-the-severe-drought-will-impact-swiss-national-day-celebrations-this-year Switzerland is the only sovereign state with a square flag, but that's not the only fact you need to know about it. https://www.thelocal.ch/20180910/six-fun-facts-about-switzerlands-usually-square-flag Mon, 10 Sep 2018 21:44:01 +0200 six-fun-facts-about-switzerlands-usually-square-flag Unlike France and Italy, Switzerland is not known for its gastronomy. But if you live here, you have probably heard some of these myths. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210326/six-common-myths-about-swiss-food-you-need-to-stop-believing Fri, 26 Mar 2021 15:20:56 +0100 six-common-myths-about-swiss-food-you-need-to-stop-believing One of the biggest annual events in Zurich, the Sechseläuten, takes places every April. The Local explains what it's all about...and what the Böögg is. https://www.thelocal.ch/20230404/sechselauten-what-you-need-to-know-about-zurichs-snowman-burning-spring-festival Tue, 04 Apr 2023 10:22:38 +0200 sechselauten-what-you-need-to-know-about-zurichs-snowman-burning-spring-festival In Switzerland, as elsewhere, certain historical landmarks and other sights are part of cities’ identities and cultural heritage. Do you know what they are? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260226/do-you-know-the-most-famous-landmarks-in-swiss-cities Thu, 26 Feb 2026 10:08:51 +0100 do-you-know-the-most-famous-landmarks-in-swiss-cities Valentines Day is the perfect time to roll out some animal-inspired Swiss-German romantic nicknames for that special someone in your life. https://www.thelocal.ch/20200214/top-ten-romantic-nicknames-to-woo-your-swiss-german-sweetheart Fri, 14 Feb 2020 20:45:32 +0100 top-ten-romantic-nicknames-to-woo-your-swiss-german-sweetheart Different parts of Switzerland mark Three Kings Day on January 6th in different ways and it's only a public holiday in certain parts of the country. https://www.thelocal.ch/20230106/dreikonigstag-how-does-switzerland-celebrate-three-kings-day Fri, 06 Jan 2023 12:57:45 +0100 dreikonigstag-how-does-switzerland-celebrate-three-kings-day You may know that December 8th is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, and that it's a public holiday in many Swiss cantons. https://www.thelocal.ch/20231201/where-in-switzerland-do-workers-get-a-day-off-on-december-8th Fri, 01 Dec 2023 12:13:59 +0100 where-in-switzerland-do-workers-get-a-day-off-on-december-8th Shoppers across Switzerland must plan ahead or else face no food in the fridge on Sunday as most shops are closed then. But a new proposal would see that changed, at least partially. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251118/mixed-reactions-to-plan-to-open-shops-on-sundays-in-switzerland Tue, 18 Nov 2025 11:20:14 +0100 mixed-reactions-to-plan-to-open-shops-on-sundays-in-switzerland Halloween is a much awaited holiday on the North American calendar, but what about in Switzerland? https://www.thelocal.ch/20211026/reader-question-does-switzerland-celebrate-halloween Tue, 26 Oct 2021 14:39:09 +0200 reader-question-does-switzerland-celebrate-halloween Geneva is the only canton in Switzerland that has a public holiday on the Thursday after the first Sunday in September. https://www.thelocal.ch/20230904/why-does-geneva-have-a-public-holiday-on-thursday Mon, 04 Sep 2023 18:08:28 +0200 why-does-geneva-have-a-public-holiday-on-thursday Plenty of traditions are associated with Switzerland's national holiday on August 1st, from fireworks and bonfires to parades. But speeches – a whopping 20 of them – are also a huge part of the celebrations. Why are there so many? https://www.thelocal.ch/20240726/why-are-there-so-many-official-speeches-to-mark-switzerlands-national-day Fri, 26 Jul 2024 15:20:06 +0200 why-are-there-so-many-official-speeches-to-mark-switzerlands-national-day Workers mounted a gigantic Swiss flag into the side of a Swiss mountain at Säntis, as is customary for Switzerland's National Day on August 1st. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240731/viedo-watch-how-a-giant-switzerland-flag-is-hung-on-side-of-swiss-mountain Wed, 31 Jul 2024 18:42:36 +0200 viedo-watch-how-a-giant-switzerland-flag-is-hung-on-side-of-swiss-mountain Cows are important in Switzerland, so much so that knowing their names might help you get a Swiss passport. The Local's cow-respondent Helena Bachmann tries to explain why the Swiss have such as a legen-dairy relationship with their bovine friends. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210622/explained-why-are-cows-so-important-in-switzerland Tue, 22 Jun 2021 11:12:26 +0200 explained-why-are-cows-so-important-in-switzerland Berchtold’s Day, celebrated on January 2nd, is one of those public holidays which is celebrated in some Swiss cantons (and municipalities) but not in others. https://www.thelocal.ch/20231229/berchtolds-day-where-in-switzerland-is-january-2nd-a-bank-holiday Fri, 29 Dec 2023 13:53:14 +0100 berchtolds-day-where-in-switzerland-is-january-2nd-a-bank-holiday The Swiss Federal Day of Thanksgiving, Repentance and Prayer is on Sunday, September 17th. Here’s how the Swiss celebrate the public holiday - and where. https://www.thelocal.ch/20230904/what-you-should-know-about-switzerlands-thanksgiving-celebration-in-september Mon, 04 Sep 2023 16:10:00 +0200 what-you-should-know-about-switzerlands-thanksgiving-celebration-in-september